The operation was conducted jointly by Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Group from Dantewada district and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the forests of Gadiras Police Station area, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, S R P Kalluri, said.

Calling the operation a big success, Kalluri said security forces acted after they got information about presence of 'Divisional Commander' rank cadre Aaytu along with a group of rebels in Gadiras area, which falls on the Sukma-Dantewada border, located around 450 km from here.

While cordoning off the forests on top of the Nagalguda Pahad (hill) at around 5 am, the security forces spotted the Naxals hideout and started encircling the spot.

The IG said that Aaytu was shot from close quarters in the gun battle, but his colleagues managed to drag him inside the jungle. Further details are awaited as the security forces are yet to come out of the jungle, he added.